2009-2010

Issues

Arts council

Supporters of the Montana Arts Council made their case for funding in front of lawmakers during a Joint Subcommittee on Education meeting in early January 2011. The organization receives around $450,000 a year from the general fund, another $200,000 from the coal tax, and $800,000 from the federal government, according to Montana Arts Council Executive Director Arlynn Fishbaugh.

Fishbaugh said a push to eliminate the Arts Council around 1994 resulted in the group refocusing their efforts.

“For something to be worthy of state investment, there has to be a return on public investment funds,” she said.

The arts bring in $4.5 million in tax revenue to the state, Fishbaugh told legislators. Wagner requested the organization provide figures about how much the state provided in tax refunds for art donations. Wagner said he understood the value of the arts.

"The structure of how we fund it has to make business sense,” said Wagner.

Democrat Senator Brad Hamlett said the testimony from Arts Council supporters was “very compelling.”

2010

On November 2, 2010, Wagner won election to the Montana House of Representatives. He defeated Les Gilman and Ray Shaw in the June 8 primary. No one has filed to run against him in the general election. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.